Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco star, will stand trial in a rape case, a French appeals court confirmed on Friday.
## What happened?
The defender, who won the Champions League for a second straight year with PSG, had appealed a February decision by an investigative judge.
The Versailles appeals court ordered that Hakimi be formally charged with rape, citing sufficient evidence against the player.
Hakimi denies any wrongdoing, and his lawyer, Fanny Colin, regrets that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant.
## Why it matters for Achraf Hakimi
The case has been detrimental not only to Hakimi but also to his family, and the truth, he wrote in a message posted on X.
Hakimi's lawyer argued that the multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would have led to the dismissal of the proceedings in any other case.
The decision was released just hours before Morocco took on Scotland in their Group C match, with Hakimi currently playing with Morocco at the World Cup.
## What comes next?
A date for the trial has yet to be announced, but Hakimi said he is waiting for it impatiently and will finally be able to speak.
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, said the court's decision brings her client a sense of relief and hope.
The plaintiff, a 24-year-old woman, alleged she was raped by Hakimi at his home in a Paris suburb in March 2023.
Hakimi wrote that justice looked him in the eye and told him that if he were not famous, there would never have been a case.
The case has sparked a sense of hope that the trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men's football.
And Hakimi's case will continue to be closely watched as the trial approaches.
But for now, the focus is on the upcoming trial and the evidence that will be presented.
So the wait for the trial continues, with Hakimi and his team preparing for the next steps.
The World Cup is also ongoing, with Morocco drawing 1-1 with Brazil in their opening game.
Hakimi is one of the best right backs in the world, and his performance on the pitch will be closely watched.
The French appeals court's decision is a significant development in the case, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds.